Chennai: CMDA mulls turning CMBT into playground – Times of India

CHENNAI: At a time when several playgrounds and parks in the city have been taken over for metro rail work and other projects, shrinking open spaces in the core pockets, the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) is mulling among other options a plan to turn the Chennai Mofussil Bus Terminus at Koyambedu into a playground.
The CMDA, which maintains CMBT that is to shut down in a couple years when long distance bus fleets are shifted to two new terminuses on the outskirts, is appointing a consultant to explore various avenues of utilizing the prime land parcel.
While CMBT sprawls over 37 acres, the terminus for private buses diagonally opposite the wholesale market at Koyambedu is spread over 6.8 acres. Both facilities would be vacated after the mofussil bus terminuses under construction at Kilambakkam and Thirumazhisai are thrown open for passengers in 2022 and 2023 and the planning authority is exploring possibilities to use them for other public purposes.
CMDA member secretary Anshul Mishra said a consultant will be appointed for the purpose. “The consultant will study various options regarding utilising the land. A playground at Koyambedu is one of the options,” he added.
K P Subramanian, a former professor of urban engineering at Anna University, said that health facilities such as specialty hospitals, recreation spaces including indoor games and organised green spaces like botanical gardens can also be explored. “Public view should be elicited before taking any final decision on utilising the land parcel. In the event of a playground being planned, a park should also be part of it with a yoga centre,” he added.